Improvement in machine for separating mineral and fossil substances



4 Sheets-Sheet 1. S S R. GEORGE.

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING MINERAL AND FOSSIL SUBSTANCES.

No. -1*0'6,047. Patented Aug. 2; 1870.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

R. GEQRGE. MACHINHPOR SEPARATI NG MINERAL AND FOSSIL SUBSTANCES. No. 106,047. Patented Aug. 2, 1870.

4 Sheets Shet 3.

RGEDBGE. I

MACHINE FORISEPA'R-A'TING MINERAL AND FOSSIL SUBSTANCES.

No. 106,047, ,7 S Patented Aug 2, 1870.

v I p L SI 11 1" R l i a S h I q. M I L I H S; L1 a o 3 a) r W I a; 6 a) i 02 g z,

I V f r 79 a a? 4222 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

'R.GEORGEY.

MACHINE FORI'SBPARATING MINERAL AND FOSSIL SUBSTANGES.,

No. 10 ,047, Patented Au .-2, 1870.

dished giant pal-ac cram -aoesiaT GEORGE, or DENVER CITY, COLORADO rssmroav'.

Letters Patent No.106,047, dated August 2,1870.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Qatenc and making part: of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT Gnonee, of Denver City, in the county of Arapahoe, in'thc. Territory of Colorado, have invented a new and useful Machine for Separating 'Gomminuted Mineral or Fossil Substances, the separation of which, by the machinery heretofore in use, has been,on account of the minnteness of the 'mrticles, very imperfect; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of its construction and operation, reference being bad to the annexed drawings makinga part of this specification.

1 Figure 1, sheet 1, is a plan on the line A B.

l igure II, sheet-2, is a plan on the line CD, the one-half showing it covered with the 'disk, the other half with disk removed, y 7

Figure 111, sheet 3, is a vertical section .on the line gravity, charged in a sieve through which is forced a current of air or water, will take place if the current of air or water can be forced equally through its .mcshes, so as' to form separate jets, which, passing upward in this manner through the materials,'-raise and carry the lighter particles ofi', while the heavier ones settle on the surfiice-of the sieve; the operation will, however, be successful onlyin so far as these jets of air or water can he; kept separateand distiuct-after having passed through the sieve. Herctofore this has been imperfectly done, and, as a consequence, there was always a great loss of the valuable materials, when the same, being, operated, consisted of finely-comminnted-or dust-like particlesflhr the reason that they cohered so closely together, and their minnteness being such, thcre'was no space or interval through which the air or water conl l' .pass, and thus, through their cohesive power, presented such a degree of resistance as caused the consolidation of a sutlicieut number of jets of air or water, whose combined power of press,- ure was sntficient to overcome the same, and allow the air or water to niake its escape, which it done.

either by raising the coheriug mass and pushing it aside, or breaking through the same with apuff, wherebythe particles were scattcred but not separated".

To overcome this cohesive power I employ centrifugal power,- in connection with a vibratory motion, by

which the mass being separated is continually agitated diately oil-the spokes a".

by a hopper possessing a rotary and oscillating motion, forthe purpose of spreading more regularly. and evenly the materials discharged through the same, and which said materials," in their descent, come into collision with a current of air or water separated into distinct jets, to correspond with the meshes of the ,sieve through which they have passed, the lighter particles being thereby blown or carried off, while the heavier ones. fall on the sieve. In this way a partial separation is efi'ectuated; theheavier particles, on striking the sieve, are immediately exposed to the vibratory motion, aswell as the continued pressure of th'e'air or watery-and by the combined-action of which the lighter particles are immediately brought within the influenceof the centrifugal power, and by \vhich"-they are propelled tangentially toward the periphery of the disk, with a velocity in a ratio equal to their weight, which velocity increases progressively as the particles near 'the periphery, for the reason that the ceutrifugalpower is constantly growing stronger and the cohesion less.

Toenable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation. v

- The machine consists of tlirce main parts:

First, the tripod B; Second,-the chamber 0; and Th'ird,'t he centrifugal separator A..- The. centrifugal separator consists of the rotary sieve'and assorter, which is constructed and composed of thcfollowing parts, viz: 1

The large iron wheel a, which is dished, and as the same revolves horizontally, its periphery a-jis thus raised, so as t-o form a convex'with its nave a, which two said'part-s are connected by the spokes or radii a. The periphery a is-rightauglcd, its base being secured to-the ends of the spokes a sothat the perpendicular of the angle projects outward in a horizontal manner, and forms the water-'rimb,\vhicl1; acts as a'ily..

The periphery a is furnished on its inside, a little below} the vertex, with the circularflange 0, extending aronnfd on the inside oftliesamc, so as to rest inime- I This flange being at right angles with the periphery d, is furnished with the sockets (1, into which are slipped the supports 0, and to which they are jointed by bolts. These supports 0 consist of two right-angled bars, whose bases-are unitetLin a T-shape, so as to --lea-ve a'n iuterstice in which the blade g folds, and one: end of which-is pivoted to the same.

'On the supportse rests the disk E, which is composed pf the four quadrantal plates H.' iSaid plates consist of two pa'rts,*viz., the inner rim b, which is a quadrantal iron plate with two arms, i). In this rim are the interstices I, through which the blade g passes. This inner --riin b is fastened to theonter rim b by being sunk into it a little, and then bolted. On the same, and the upperend of b, rests the quadrantab shaped sieve i, and is fastened thereto by compression, by means of hands and bolts.

The disk E is furnished,-on its upper side, with the wings; h, of different lengths, extending alternately from the plate j over the inner edge of rim '1), and from the edge of sieve i to the inner edge of rim 1). These wings are fastened to disk E, with which they form an acute angle, by screws k k k, and pivots. Screws'k k. are regulating-screws, by means of which the acnteness of angle formed as aforesaid is governed, and also the 'interst-ice l, underneath these wings, and securely fastened to disk E are two vertical flanges, c" a, running parallel with the wing, the shortest and lowest flange being 0 the longest and highest 0, which is next immediately in front of the blade 9, and .pre-- vents any dust or materials getting into i'n-terstice 1.

Running parallel with the wings his the pendent trough c, restingon the disk E in such amanner that it projects out from under the elevated edge of the wings h. This trough e" and the flanges o 0 open into the conduits m m on, being pipes, and cast with the wlleel c, as a part of its periphery. The other ends of the supports 0 are upheld by the conical flange n, which is provided with vthe niches n, into which the supports'are slipped,'and in which they slide.

The cone n is the base of the wheel F, and rests upon India-rubber or metallic cushions or spriugs,'0,

"which cushions arekept in position by being sunk in the disk G, which is furnished with a recess for that purpose. The disk .G rests on and is supported by the screws 11, by which. it is also raised or lowered. {The screws 1) rest in pits sunk n the spokes a, and extend up through the plate j. This plate j, tin-on" i which passes the tubed nave of the wheel E, which, encompasses the shaft D, overlaps the apex. of they -q'uadrantal plates H, and, being securely fastened to the conical flange a, fastens the same by compression, firmly to the supports e.

l The bottom part of the centrifugal separator A is covered with sheet-iron, which-forms, at the nave, the pipe 0, extending downward, so as to'bc;; at right angles with the bottom. In this manner a hollow wheel,

composed. of the foregoing parts, is constructed, whose axis is the shaft 1), and to which it is secured by keying itsnave a to the same.-

I The wheel 1: consists of the tubed nave 1', which terminates in the'conical flange a. To the upper part of this tube 1' is'screwed,left-handed, the disks, the under sideof which is provided with a circular groove tor recess, into which fits the circular toothed plate t; The teeth of plate t are of an angular shape, and converge toward the nave in a radial manner, and are at right angles with .their plane, being disks, and into which plate t is fastened, by countersunk screws or bolts. The axis of wheel ll is the shaft D, to which it is fastened by a spline. The .wheel 1*" is the counterpart of wheel F, excepting'it has no conical flange. The tubed nave r of wheel F fits and works in tube, G telescopically, and to which it is keyed, admitting, however, of its telescopic movement. The inside of the tubed nave r is furnished with the two projections j, the nnderfpart of which have a recess into which sinks the shoulders u of the tubed male screw k,

which said screw passes up through plate H, and into which is fitted and fastenedthe iiemalescrew'k", and terminates in a flat head, furnished with handles at right angles with the periphery, by which it is turned.

By turning screw 70'' the shoulders a, sinking in the recess of the projection j,- forces them upward,- and thereby tubed wheel F is raised, and as tubed wheel F is in gear with tubed wheel F, it follows that that also will be raised, by the raising of which,'with its onical flange or base a, on which rest the supports e,

disk E is raised from a plane to an incline; furthermore, by screw 1) is regulated the pitch line of wheels Wheel F having a rotarymotion, and wheel F being stationary, it follows that, when wheel F rotates, on account of being in gear with wheel F, it will also have an oscillating motion, by which the disk E, which rests on it, as'aforesaid, will be constantly oscillating. I

Tube G is a part of disk I, fig; I,'which said disk I rests upon and is securely fastened to the arms w of the tripod B;

This disk is perforated by four circular holes, in which slide the pipes x, which are regulated by screwnnts.

These pipes fit telescopically pipes at, which pipes 2; areunit'ed in a circular manner, forming four' convex months, which are surrounded by'the rims z z, and are supported by uprights sitting on disk I; I

Immediately below disk I is the hopper m, consistw ing of two'cylindrical plates, the one encompassing the other, and joined by spiral strips, which also form the interstices at the bottom of the hopper, through which the materials pass onto the sieve 'i.

This hopper is keyed or otherwise fastened to tube 1' of wheel F, and has, therefore, as oscillating and rotary motion. 4

Immediately over' the mouths Z is the horizontal friction-wheel a, whose short spokes or radii form intervals, between which the materials pass. from the hopper 0 into mouth Z. The axis-of'-frietion-whccl N .is shaft D,.to which it is keyed, Wheel N is also furnished with two rims, the one below and the other on top, and, being at right angles with its plane, these prevent the materials passing through from being wasted'or lostrby passing-over its side.

The wheel N, at its periphery, rests on the vertical friction-wheel P, revolving. on its own axis, and which is supported by the extended upright '31 and the sup- .P y

. Running parallel with the arm w, on which rests k", which governs and regulates the clutch z, and by means of which wheel P is forced from the periphery toward the nave of wheel N, or vice verso In this manner is regulated the speed or velocity of-the-whole apparatus.

The-hopper o'is of a funnel-shape, its bottom being-provided with a rotary damper, O, wherewith is regulated the discharge of materials into the apparatus.

The hopper'rests in the circular, plate Q, which plate pests on the arms of the small tripod B.

The shaftD extends upthroug'h hopper O, and it is squared at the top, to which is fitted the scraper O, which revolves with the shaft, and by means of agitated and forced throu gh the apertures in regular quantities.

upon which arms .rest the tripod 13, consisting of three uprights, y, and three arms, 10, to which the plate Q is fastened.

. circular chambers, X XXf, which are so formed that wheel P, and being underneath, is a long male screw,

which the materials in hopper O are being continually The tripod B consists of three uprights, 1, and

three arms, w, to'wliich is fastened the disk I, and

- Aswill have been seen, the shaft D extends the.

cular parts, each part being divided into three semiv =flie interstices! and the sieves i.

'Xin this manner, there is formed in chamber 0 a triangular opening, intowhich extends the pipe L, which is a long pipe furnished with an elbow, which elbow is surrounded by theeircular rim L.

Y Over-the elbowis'slipped pipe Y, resting in the rim L, which is filled wit-hmercury, making an air-tightjoint. I

- As the shaft D passes through the elbow of pipe L, I-provide the bottom part of it with a packing-box, so as to prevent the escape of any air or watertherethrough.

The manner of operating my machine is as follows:

To the axis of wheel P is connected the motive power by which the apparatus is, worked. Pipe L is in connectionwith a blowing-machine, so that a current of air is forced up through it, into the separatingchamber A, and from which it makes its escapethrough The materials to be separated are placed into hopper 0, through which they are-forced by the rotary' scraper O, andfall through, between radii or spokes of wheel N, into the mouthed pipes a: and x, by which they are conducted into. the oscillating and vibrating'hopper M, by which they aieevenly distributed over siere '4 when separation begins. When the particles of the mass to be separatedhave been agitated and exposed to the centrifugal power, as aforesaid, those particles of equal weightwill move in a sliding or rolling manner from the center toward the periphery of the separator, and, as they move in a tangential direction, they come in contact with the wings h. As the particles of greatest specific gravity are least in bulk, they immediately pass through the interstice l, which, being regulated by screw ltfiwill admit of any size desired. Those particles being of an equal weight, but less specific gravity, will be of the greatest bulk, and, as a-conseqnence, cannot pass through the interstice Z, and will he forced to rise and slide over the wing, as particles of ,a greater 'bulk are more easily carried off by the centrifugal power, 'whose power of action is dependent on the circumference which the particles expose to its action. j The current of air orwater which is contin' ually issuing on eaclrside of the blade g, up through the interstice l, prevents the choking of interstice L, or of the flanged troughs c 0 Of those particles raised and forced over the wing, the heavier ones will drop down on arriving at the elevated edge of the same, whereas the latter ones, having an'inclined direction, will'pass away over those dropping down at the edge. of the wing, are caught in the trough c, and the current of air exuding up through interstice Z, and which has been divided by blade 9, upon which rests the wing 71, will prevent any but these particles of a greater specific gravity from falling into trough c, as the power of its pressure forces the others over the sieve. The shorter or alternate wings operate in the same manner, excepting they havebnt one trough, c", besides trough c, and designed to gather and collect these particles falling on the center of the grad-' uated plates, and which otherwise'would be carried off tangentially by the centrifugal power before coming in contact with the longer wings, and, as these-consist of larger particles, only trough c is dispensed with.

What lclairn as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process of separating minerals and valuable fossil substances from extraneous substance by centrifugal apparatus, operating with a jet of air or water.

'2. The centrifugal separator, constructed and operatingas described.

3. The disk E, with. sieves, plates, wings, blades, and flanges, in manner-as constructed "and described, together with its mode of operation and manner of fastening.

4. The tube-wheels F and F, their peculiar construction, together with their attachments and appendages. I

5. The processby which the .disk E is raised and lowered, so as to be either on a plane or an incline, together with the screw k with its manner of con.- struction and attaching.

' 6. For the manner of attaching the friction-wheels N and P, so as to regulate the velocity orspeed of the apparatus.

7 Theprocess Bf forcing air or water through ma terials, and thereby separating them, in the centrifugal separator A.

.8. For the manner of constructing rim L, whereby joint of the pipe V and the pipe L are rendered airtight by the mercurial or water-packing.

In witness whereof I-hav e, this 14th day of July, A. D. 1870, hereunto set 'my hand in presence ROBERT GEORGE;

Witnesses:

E. P. WEBER, LOUIS Sonunzn. 

